With the signing of the 2003--05 biennial budget, the Brownfields Grant Program will remain under the Department of Commerce umbrella rather than transfer to the Department of Natural Resources. With the restoration of the program, Commerce staff will be able to go forward with projects that were selected for funding early in 2003.

Since June of 1998, the Brownfields Grant Program has awarded a total of $29.95 million in grants to 72 projects across Wisconsin. These projects will have the following positive economic and environmental impact on communities:

• The conversion of 830 acres of abandoned or under-used environmentally contaminated sites into clean and viable properties.
• An increase of over $385 million in taxable property values.
• The creation of over 4,000 new jobs.

For more information about the Brownfields Grant Program, contact Jason Scott, Brownfields Program Manager, at (608) 261-7714 or jscott@commerce.state.wi.us.

--Barbro McGinn

The newsletter is issued electronically every other month.

Please send comments or questions to Barbro McGinn, editor.